Top 10: What is the best maths joke you have ever heard?
- Readers take a crack at mathematics with silly jokes about arguments with triangles and numbers that aren’t odd - just unusual
- This week’s question: If you could change one thing in maths, what would it be and why?
Who knew that this subject could be so funny? Photo: ShutterstockThis week’s question: If you could change one thing in maths, what would it be, and why?
To take part, drop us a line via this form or email us at yp@scmp.com by 11.59pm on May 31. Tell us your name, age and school.
The Hang Lung Mathematics Awards (HLMA) encourages secondary students to unleash their creativity in mathematics and ignite their passion for intellectual discovery. We are asking a total of five questions to inspire you to think deeply about the power of mathematics, the importance of integrity and the pursuit of excellence. Unleash your potential to make an impact on the world!
How could you use maths to change the community around you?
Chan Pak-ching, 15, CNEC Christian College: “Why was the maths book sad? Because it had too many problems.”
This joke is a classic example that plays on the dual meaning of the word “problem”. In maths, a problem is usually a question that requires a solution. However, in everyday language, a problem can also refer to a difficulty or challenge.
Jane Tong King-kiu, 13, Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College: “Never argue with a 90° angle; it is always right.”
In Secondary Two, students learn about the angles in a triangle. Our maths teacher thought this subject was a little boring so she decided to tell a joke. She said we should never argue with a right angle (which is equal to 90°), because it is never “wrong”. When we heard this joke, some of us just rolled our eyes, but some burst out laughing, like I did.
Sophia Ling, 11, German Swiss International School: I love the classic, “Why was six afraid of seven? Because seven eight (ate) nine!” But I like the extended version even more. “Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven eight nine! But why did seven eat nine? Because you’re supposed to eat three square meals a day!”
Ivan Wen Tsz-lok, 13, Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College: Lunchtime starts at 11.30am. Tom is hungry and does not want be in class. He is sitting in his seat but he is thinking about beef and bread. His maths teacher notices he is distracted and asks, “What would happen if the decimal of 1.130 moved one place to the right?”
“That would be lunch!” Tom answers without hesitation.
Rachel Lui Wing-lam, 15, Wesley College: “An opinion without 3.14 is just an onion”. The mathematical constant “Pi” equals approximately 3.14. So if you remove the “pi” from oPInion, you are left with “onion”.
Times we used maths outside the classroom
Hanson Lam Lok-him, 14, Christian Alliance S.C. Chan Memorial College: The one about calculating the volume of a pizza. If you have a pizza with radius z and thickness (height) a, its volume is pi*z*z*a, which is the exact spelling of the word.
Leung Miu-ling, 13, Ho Yu College and Primary School (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen): A mum asks her son: “You have been in school for three months now. Which is easier, mathematics or Chinese?” The boy says: “I think mathematics is easier.” The mum asks, “Why?” The son answers: “Because there are thousands and thousands of Chinese characters, but in mathematics, there are only 10 digits [0-9].”
Cherie Choi Tsz-ching, 16, Tak Nga Secondary School: “Do you know what seems odd to me? Numbers that cannot be divided by two.”
When I first heard this joke, I did not get it. But when I finally understood it, I laughed for a long time because it was so silly.
Chan Lok-chi, 15, Pui Kiu College: Q: Why is your answer sheet blank? A: Because the answers are imaginary numbers!
Yoyo Ko Ka-tung, 15, Tak Nga Secondary School: Why shouldn’t you eat too much pie? You’ll end up with a large circumference. As a foodie,that is a suitable joke since you will end up being quite chubby if you cannot resist eating a massive amount of food and dessert.